Phrixus

(334 words)

(Φρίξος/Phríxos, Lat. Phrixus). Son of Athamas and Nephele [1], brother of Helle. When Athamas, incited by his second wife Ino (Leucothea), intends to sacrifice P. to Zeus on the basis of an oracle falsified by her, he flees with Helle on a ram with a golden coat sent by Nephele. Helle drowns; P, after his arrival in Aea (Colchis), sacrifices the ram to Zeus Phyxios and gives the fleece to Aeetes who hangs it up in the grove of Ares (as a guarantee of his rule: Diod. Sic. 4,47,6; Val. Fl. 5,224ff.). P. marries Chalciope [2] (or Iophossa: Pherecydes FGrH 3 F 25) and fathers by…